MODULE 2

THE SPREADING OF THE GOSPEL

(Week 6 - 10)

I. Topics:
 The Conversion of Saul
 The Gospel Spreads Through the Missionary Journeys of the Apostle Paul
 Deaths of the Apostles
 The First 300 years of the Church

II. Most Essential Module Objectives:

At the end of this module, the learners are expected to:
 Familiarize with the life and ministry journeys of the apostle Paul.
 Understand the love and commitment of the disciples for the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
 Gain important truths about the faith of the early believers that enabled them to stand for Christ in the midst
of persecutions.
 Establish their own faith and relationship in Jesus Christ through obedience to the Great Commission.

BIBLE 102
III. Overview / Introduction:

One of the primary goals of the early believers was the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere they go. It
is thrilling to read about the valiant efforts of these Spirit-filled believers which started in the book of Acts and
continued down in history, reaching far and wide unto every continent. Jesus already told his disciple in Acts 1:8
that they will be his witnesses to the “uttermost part of the earth”. So the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ to
every part of the world is to be expected and also fulfilled by the believers of Jesus Christ in obedience to the Great
Commission.

The Church in History

As we look into the history of the spread of the gospel, we encounter ordinary yet significant people whose lives
God changed and used to carry the message of salvation to distant places across the centuries. Without regard for
their own safety or comfort, they go wherever the Holy Spirit leads them so that unbelievers can hear the good
news of salvation.

IV. Lesson Input

1st Semester A.Y. 2024 - 2025
Midterm
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL
(Acts 9 & 22)
The story of Saul, also called Paul, is a story of redemption in Jesus Christ and a testimony that no one is beyond
the saving grace of the Lord. However, to gain the full measure of the man, we must examine his dark side and
what he symbolized before becoming “the Apostle of Grace.”

Background
Far from ordinary, Paul was given the opportunity to do extraordinary things for the kingdom of God. His early life
Rev. Adilberto V. Chaveez, Jr.
was marked by religious zeal, brutal violence, and the relentless persecution of the early church. Fortunately, the
later years of Paul’s life show a marked difference as he lived his life for Christ and for the advancement of His
kingdom.
FB/Messenger: Bert Chavez
Paul was actually born as Saul. He was born in Tarsus in Cilicia around AD 1–5 in a province in the southeastern
corner of modern-day Tersous, Turkey. He was of Benjamite lineage and Hebrew ancestry (Philippians 3:5–6). His
parents were Pharisees—fervent Jewish nationalists who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses—who sought to
protect their children from “contamination” from the Gentiles. Anything Greek would have been despised in Saul’s
household, yet he could speak Greek and passable Latin. His household would have spoken Aramaic, a derivative
of Hebrew, which was the official language of Judea. Saul’s family were Roman citizens but viewed Jerusalem as a
truly sacred and holy city (Acts 22:22-29).

At age thirteen Saul was sent to Judea to learn from a rabbi named Gamaliel, under whom Saul mastered Jewish
history, the Psalms, and the works of the prophets. His education would continue for five or six years as Saul
learned such things as dissecting Scripture (Acts 22:3). It was during this time that he developed a question-and-
answer style of teaching known in ancient times as “diatribe.” This method of articulation helped rabbis debate the
finer points of Jewish law to either defend or prosecute those who broke the law. Saul went on to become a lawyer,

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and all signs pointed to his becoming a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court of 71 men who ruled
over Jewish life and religion. Saul was zealous for his faith, and this faith did not allow for compromise. It is this
zeal that led Saul down the path of religious extremism.

In Acts 5:27–42, Peter delivered his defense of the gospel and of Jesus in front of the Sanhedrin, which Saul would
have heard. Gamaliel was also present and delivered a message to calm the council and prevent them from
stoning Peter. Saul might also have been present at the trial of Stephen. He was present for his stoning and death;
he held the garments of those who did the stoning (Acts 7:58). After Stephen’s death, "a great persecution broke
out against the church in Jerusalem" (Acts 8:1).

Saul became determined to eradicate Christians, ruthless in his pursuit as he believed he was acting in the name
of God. Arguably, there is no one more frightening or more vicious than a religious terrorist, especially when he
believes he is doing the will of the Lord by killing innocent people. This is exactly what Saul of Tarsus was: a
religious terrorist. Acts 8:3 states, “He began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off
men and women, he would put them in prison.”

Turning Point
The pivotal passage in Paul’s story is Acts 9:1–22, which recounts Paul’s meeting with Jesus Christ on the road
from Jerusalem to Damascus, a journey of about 150 miles. Saul was angered by what he had seen and filled with
murderous rage against the Christians. Before departing on his journey, he had asked the high priest for letters to
the synagogues in Damascus, asking for permission to bring any Christians (followers of “the Way,” as they were
known) back to Jerusalem to imprison them. On the road Saul was caught in a bright light from heaven that caused
him to fall face down on the ground. He heard the words, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He replied,
“Who are you Lord?” Jesus answered directly and clearly, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (verses 4–5).
This might not have been Saul’s first encounter with Jesus, as some scholars suggest that young Saul might have
known of Jesus and that he might have actually witnessed His death.

From that moment on, Saul’s life was turned upside down. The light of the Lord blinded him, and as he traveled on
he had to rely on his companions. As instructed by Jesus, Saul continued to Damascus to make contact with a
man named Ananias, who was hesitant at first to meet Saul because he knew Saul’s reputation as an evil man. But
the Lord told Ananias that Saul was a “chosen instrument” to carry His name before the Gentiles, kings, and the
children of Israel (Acts 9:15) and would suffer for doing so (Acts 9:16). Ananias followed the Lord’s instructions and
found Saul, on whom he laid hands, and told him of his vision of Jesus Christ. Through prayer, Saul received the
Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17), regained his sight, and was baptized (Acts 9:18). Saul immediately went into the
synagogues and proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 9:20). The people were amazed and skeptical, as
Saul’s reputation was well known. The Jews thought he had come to take away the Christians (Acts 9:21), but he
had in fact joined them. Saul’s boldness increased as the Jews living in Damascus were confounded by Saul’s
arguments proving that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 9:22).

So, what can we learn from the life of the apostle Paul? First, we learn that God can save anyone. The remarkable
story of Paul repeats itself every day as sinful, broken people all over the world are transformed by God’s saving
grace in Jesus Christ. Some of these people have done despicable things to other human beings, while some just
try to live a moral life thinking that God will smile upon them on the Day of Judgment. When we read the story of
Paul, we are amazed that God would allow into heaven a religious extremist who murdered innocent women and
children.

Today, we might see terrorists or other criminals as unworthy of redemption because their crimes against humanity
are just too great. The story of Paul is a story that can be told today—he isn’t worthy in our eyes of a second
chance, yet God granted him mercy. The truth is that every person matters to God, from the “good, decent,”
average person to the “wicked, evil,” degenerate one. Only God can save a soul from hell.

Second, we learn from the life of Paul that anyone can be a humble, powerful witness for Jesus Christ. Arguably,
no other human figure in the Bible demonstrated more humility while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ as Paul.
Acts 20:19 tells us that he “served the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to [him]
through the plots of the Jews.” In Acts 28:31, Paul shares the good news of Jesus Christ: “Boldly and without
hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul was not afraid to tell
others what the Lord had done for him. Paul spent all his days, from conversion to martyrdom, working tirelessly for
the kingdom of God.

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Finally, we learn that anyone can surrender completely to God. Paul was fully committed to God. In Philippians
1:12–14, Paul wrote from prison, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to
advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my
imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are
much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Despite his circumstances, Paul praised God and continually
shared the good news (see also Acts 16:22–25 and Philippians 4:11–13).

Through his hardships and suffering, Paul knew the outcome of a life well lived for Christ. He had surrendered his
life fully, trusting God for everything. He wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
Can we make the same claim?

THE GOSPEL SPREADS THROUGH THE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

The New Testament, specifically the book of Acts, records Paul taking three pioneering missionary journeys that
spread the message of Christ to Asia Minor and Europe. On these three separate missionary journeys—each
several years in length—Paul preached the good news of Jesus in many coastal cities and trade route towns. The
following is a brief chronicle of these missionary journeys:

1st Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14): Answering God’s call to proclaim Christ, Paul and Barnabas left the church
at Antioch in Syria. At first, their method of evangelism was to preach in the town synagogues. But when many of
the Jews rejected Christ, the missionaries recognized God’s call of witnessing to the Gentiles.

Because of his bold testimony of Jesus, Saul the persecutor became Paul the persecuted. Those who rejected his
message of salvation through Jesus Christ tried to stop and harm him. In one city, he was stoned and left for dead.
But God spared him. Through trials and beatings and imprisonments, he kept on preaching Christ.

Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles brought controversy over who could be saved and how to be saved. Between his
first and second missionary journeys, he participated in a conference in Jerusalem discussing the way of salvation.
The final consensus was that the Gentiles could receive Jesus without submitting to Jewish traditions.

2nd Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36-18:22): After another stay in Antioch, building up the church there, Paul
was ready to take a second missionary journey. He asked Barnabas to join him, revisiting the churches of their first
missionary journey. A disagreement, however, caused them to split. God turned this dispute into a positive, for now
there were two missionary teams. Barnabas went to Cyprus with John Mark, and Paul took Silas to Asia Minor.

God providentially redirected Paul and Silas to Greece, bringing the gospel to Europe. At Philippi, the missionary
team was beaten and imprisoned. Rejoicing to suffer for Christ, they sang in jail. Suddenly, God caused an
earthquake to open the doors of the cell and free them from their chains. The amazed jailer and his family believed
in Christ, but the government officials begged Paul and Silas to leave.

Traveling on to Athens, Paul preached to an inquisitive audience on Mars Hill. He proclaimed the only true God
whom they could know and worship without man-made idols. Again, some sneered and some believed.

Paul taught those who believed in Christ and established them in churches. During this 2nd missionary journey,
Paul made many disciples from all backgrounds: a young man named Timothy, a businesswoman named Lydia,
and the married couple Aquila and Priscilla.

3rd Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23-20:38): During Paul’s third journey, he fervently preached in Asia Minor.
God confirmed his message with miracles. Acts 20:7-12 tells of Paul at Troas preaching an exceptionally long
sermon. A young man, sitting in an upstairs window sill, went to sleep and fell out the window. He was thought to
be dead, but Paul revived him.

Once involved in the occult, the new believers at Ephesus burned their magic books. Idol-makers, on the other
hand, were not pleased with their loss of business on account of this one true God and His Son. One silversmith
named Demetrius started a city-wide riot, praising their goddess Diana. Trials always followed Paul. The
persecution and opposition ultimately strengthened true Christians and spread the gospel.

At the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, he knew he would soon be imprisoned and probably killed. His final
words to the church at Ephesus display his devotion to Christ: (Acts 20:18-24).

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The book of Acts clearly outlines the first three of Paul’s missionary journeys and his first set of trials and ends with
his first imprisonment in Rome. Everything after that time must be gleaned from Paul’s epistles, particularly the
stops he mentions in the letters he wrote during his second imprisonment. Nero, the emperor at that time, was on a
rampage against Christians in Rome and, if the tradition is true, Paul was beheaded at Nero’s order.

The purpose of all of Paul’s missionary journeys was the same: proclaiming God’s grace in forgiving sin through
Christ. God used Paul’s ministry to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, establish churches, and edified the body of
Christ—the Church. Paul’s letters to the churches, recorded in the New Testament, still support church life and
doctrine. Although Paul’s missionary journeys caused him to sacrifice everything, they were worth the cost
(Philippians 3:7-11).

DEATHS OF THE APOSTLES

Christian persecution is to be expected: the apostle Paul warned that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus said that, if they persecuted Him, they will also persecute
His followers (John 15:20).

The only apostle whose death the Bible records is James (Acts 12:2). King Herod had James “put to death with the
sword,” likely a reference to beheading. According to church tradition, the Roman officer who guarded James
watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of
execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept
beheading as a Christian.

The circumstances of the deaths of the other apostles are related through church tradition, so we should not put
too much weight on any of the other accounts. The most commonly accepted church tradition in regard to the
death of an apostle is that of the apostle Peter. He was crucified upside down on an x shaped cross in Rome. It
was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

The following are the most popular “traditions” concerning the deaths of the other apostles:

Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.

John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in a huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome.
However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of
Patmos. He wrote his prophetic book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to
what is now modern-day Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.

James, the brother of Jesus (not officially an apostle), was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. He was thrown
from the southeast pinnacle of the temple (over a hundred feet down) when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a club. This is thought to be
the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the temptation.

Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed in present-day Turkey and was
martyred for his preaching in Armenia, being flayed to death by a whip.

Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers, they tied
his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that when he was led toward the
cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: “I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been
consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.” He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he
died.

Mark died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.

Luke was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.

The apostle Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church
there.

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Jude was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

The apostle Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero in Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a
lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the
Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion
of the New Testament.

There are traditions regarding the other apostles as well, but none with any reliable historical or traditional support.

It is not so important how the apostles died. What is important is the fact that they were all willing to die for their
faith. If Jesus had not been resurrected, the disciples would have known it. People will not die for something they
know to be a lie. The fact that all of the apostles were willing to die horrible deaths, refusing to renounce their faith
in Christ, is tremendous evidence that they had truly witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and
cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times for the sake of the Faith.

Hebrews 11:13 - 16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,
embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had
opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for He has prepared a city for them.

THE FIRST 300 YEARS OF THE CHURCH

The believers of the first century did not go forth into a world in which everyone loved their message and gladly and
joyfully received it. The majority of people hated the message which these believers preached. Jesus Himself had
warned His disciples that they would be hated and persecuted.

The first 300 years of the church is known as the HEROIC AGE OF THE CHURCH This is the time when the
Church went through the great fires of persecution.

There are ten primitive persecutions mentioned in Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

1. The first mass persecution occurred under Nero in A.D. 67. He was the sixth emperor of Rome and is
remembered as the one who set Rome aflame and then blamed the Christians for the deaths and destruction
caused by the fire. He had some Christians sewn up in skins of wild beasts and thrown to the dogs. Some
Christians were dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to axletrees, and set on fire in his gardens, in order to
illuminate them. It was during the reign of Nero that the apostles Peter and Paul were executed. Ultimately, it is
the brutality inflicted on the early Christians for which Nero is best remembered.

From that point on, the Christians were blamed for many of the misfortunes befalling the Empire. Persecution and
martyrdom was quick to follow. Because of this persecution, the early Christians were forced to meet in the
catacombs, which were long, dark galleries under the city of Rome. There they continued their meetings, baptisms,
and even burials for their dead. As a result of the persecution, many of the early Christians were scattered
throughout the Roman Empire, expediting the cause of evangelism and fulfilling the Lord’s commands to make
disciples of all nations. Rather than diminished the spirit of Christianity, this persecution increased the devotion
and commitment of Christianity.

2. The second persecution happened under Domitian in A.D. 81. Among the numerous martyrs that suffered
during this persecution was Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was crucified; and St. John, who was boiled in oil,
and afterward banished to Patmos. Flavia, the daughter of a Roman senator, was likewise banished to Pontus; and
a law was made, “That no Christian, once brought before the tribunal, should be exempted from punishment
without renouncing his religion.”

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A variety of fabricated tales were, during this reign, composed in order to injure the Christians. Such was the
infatuation of the pagans, that, if famine, pestilence, or earthquakes afflicted any of the Roman provinces, it was
laid upon the Christians. These persecutions among the Christians increased the number of informers and many,
for the sake of gain, swore away the lives of the innocent.

Another hardship was, that, when any Christians were brought before the magistrates, a test oath was proposed,
when, if they refused to take it, death was pronounced against them; and if they confessed themselves Christians,
the sentence was the same. The following were the most remarkable among the numerous martyrs who suffered
during this persecution. Dionysius, the Areopagite, Nicodemus, a benevolent Christian of some distinction,
suffered at Rome during the rage of Domitian’s persecution. Protasius and Gervasius were martyred at Milan.
During this time also, Timothy, the disciple of Paul, and bishop of Ephesus, reproved the people for their ridiculous
idolatry, which so exasperated the people that they fell upon him with their clubs, and beat him in so dreadful a
manner that he expired of the bruises two days later.

3. The third primitive persecution occurred under Trajan in A.D. 108. Christians were beaten, beheaded, and
devoured by wild beasts. About ten thousand Christians were put to death.

4. The fourth persecution took place under Marcus Aurelius Antoninas in A.D. 162. The cruelties used in this
persecution were such that many of the spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at the
boldness of the sufferers. Some of the martyrs were obliged to pass, with their already wounded feet, over thorns,
nails, sharp shells, etc. Others were scourged until their sinews and veins lay bare, and after suffering the most
excruciating tortures that could be devised, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths.

Germanicus, a young man, but a true Christian, being delivered to the wild beasts on account of his faith, behaved
with such astonishing courage that several pagans became converts to a faith which inspired such courage.

Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, was brought before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in the market place.
The proconsul then urged him, saying, “Swear, and I will release thee;—reproach Christ.” Polycarp answered,
“Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King,
Who hath saved me?” At the stake to which he was only tied, but not nailed as usual, as he assured them he
should stand immovable, the flames, on their kindling the fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without touching
him; and the executioner, on seeing this, was ordered to pierce him with a sword. When so great a quantity of
blood flowed out, it extinguished the fire. Later, at the request of his Christian friends, they collected his bones and
as much of his remains as possible, and caused them to be decently buried.

5. The fifth persecution is credited to Severus in A.D. 192. Christians were burned at the stake, had hot tar poured
on their heads, beheaded, placed in boiling water and ravaged by wild beasts. The persecutions now extending to
Africa, many were martyred in that part of the globe. In many of these executions, the executioners were
converted to faith in Jesus Christ because of the courage and boldness of the believers to remain true and faithful
to Jesus no matter the persecution.

6. The sixth persecution took place under Maximus in A.D. 235. At this time, numerous Christians were slain
without trial and buried indiscriminately in heaps (mass graves), sometimes fifty or sixty bodies being cast into a pit
together, without the least decency.

7. The seventh persecution happened under Decius in A.D. 249. At this time, the principal person martyred was
Fabian, the bishop of Rome, who was beheaded on January 20, A.D. 250. Julian, a native of Cilicia, as we are
informed by St. Chrysostom, was seized upon for being a Christian. He was put into a leather bag, together with a
number of serpents and scorpions, and in that condition thrown into the sea. Many others were tortured,
imprisoned, and brutally killed during this persecution.

8. The eighth persecution occurred under Valerian in A.D. 257. and continued for three years and six months. The
martyrs that fell in this persecution were innumerable, and their tortures and deaths as various and painful. In
Africa the persecution raged with peculiar violence; many thousands received the crown of martyrdom. Once
again every manner of torture was used to mock those claiming to be Christians and for the entertainment of the
rulers and their guests.

9. The ninth persecution occurred under Aurelian in A.D. 274 when Felix, bishop of Rome was martyred by
beheading. Another recorded martyr during this persecution was Agapetus, who was tortured and then beheaded.

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10. The tenth persecution took place under Diocletian in A.D. 303. This was commonly called the Era of the
Martyrs and was occasioned partly by the increasing number and luxury of the Christians, and the hatred of
Galerius, the adopted son of Diocletian, who, being stimulated by his mother, a pagan, never ceased persuading
the emperor to enter upon the persecution, until he had accomplished his purpose.

All the Christians were apprehended and imprisoned; and Galerius privately ordered the imperial palace to be set
on fire, that the Christians might be charged as the incendiaries, and a plausible pretence given for carrying on the
persecution with the greater severities.

Many houses were set on fire, and whole Christian families perished in the flames; and others had stones fastened
about their necks, and being tied together were driven into the sea. The persecution became general in all the
Roman provinces, but more particularly in the east; and as it lasted ten years, it is impossible to ascertain the
numbers martyred, or to enumerate the various modes of martyrdom.

Racks, scourges, swords, daggers, crosses, poison, and famine, were made use of in various parts to dispatch the
Christians; and invention was exhausted to devise tortures against them. A city of Phrygia, consisting entirely of
Christians, was burnt, and all the inhabitants perished in the flames.

Tired with slaughter, at length, several governors of provinces represented to the imperial court, the impropriety of
such conduct. Hence many were spared from execution, but, though they were not put to death, as much as
possible was done to render their lives miserable, many of them having their ears cut off, their noses slit, their right
eyes put out, their limbs rendered useless by dreadful dislocations, and their flesh seared in conspicuous places
with red-hot irons.

V. Summary:
How did the Christians deal with this persecution? Did they band together to form an army so that they could fight
against the Romans? Did they turn away from the Christian faith because it cost too much to be a believer? No, the
early Christians met cruelty with courage and they met hatred with heroism and they met fierceness with faith.

The early Christians refused to bow their knee to Caesar [the name for the Roman Emperor] as the greatest LORD
of all. Every Christian knew that the supreme LORD was not Caesar but the LORD Jesus Christ! (Rom. 10:9)

Why did God allow this type of suffering and persecution to happen to His people? Life is full of difficult questions
like this. These are questions we cannot possibly answer in this life, because we do not see all that God sees. He
has chosen to allow evil in this world for a time. In the meantime we can hope in God’s promise to destroy all evil
eventually. And we can trust in God to use our suffering to build our character and glorify himself.

VI. References:
Bible History Tools and Resources: AD and BC. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2019, from Bible Study Tools
website: http://www.biblestudytools.com/history/
Zondervan Bible Publishers (Grand Rapids, Mich. ). (2017). Holy Bible
gotquestions.org
John Foxe: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS / 2004
Kuper, B. (1951). The Church in History. Grand Rapids, Michigan: WM. B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING CO.
Gonzales, J. (2010). The Story of Christianity. New York: Harper Collins.

Bruce, S. (2013). Church History in Plain Language. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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VII. Assessments

ACTIVITY QUESTIONS

1. What kind of a Pharisee was Saul?

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Identify one(1) lesson to be learned from the life of the apostle Paul and explain.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Read Acts 13-14 and identify 5 places where Paul shared the gospel of Jesus.
_____________________ ________________________ _________________________
_____________________ ________________________
4. Read Acts 15:36-18:22 and identify 5 places where Paul shared the gospel of Jesus.
_____________________ ________________________ _________________________
_____________________ ________________________
5. Read Acts 18:23-20:38 and identify 5 places where Paul shared the gospel of Jesus.
_____________________ ________________________ _________________________
_____________________ ________________________
6. A. What does the ten primitive persecutions prove about Christianity? (give 1 answer only)
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
B. Give 1 example of your answer and explain.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

7. A. What does the ten primitive persecutions prove about the Christians of the first 300 years of the Church?
(give 1 answer only)
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
B. Give 1 example of your answer and explain.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

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Reviewed by:

EPHRAIM MAGUAD, LPT, MEd

Program Head

Approved by:

MARILYN T. ALCALA, LPT, PhD

Dean